Daily Times

On Friday, Donald Trump swore in as the 45th president of the United States. Hundreds of millions Americans rejoiced whereas equal numbers were unhappy over his rhetoric and acerbic remarks before, during and post-election speeches. Nevertheless, President Trump defied predictions of incorrigible optimists who believed that he would espouse realpolitik in view of ground realities. In one of his election speeches, Trump had said that if elected he would no longer surrender this country, or its people, to the false song of globalism — being a prime example of a naively accepted catchword. Donald Trump had campaigned against NATO and US military alliances in Asia, against planned free trade agreements, against international cooperation on climate change and against détente agreements with Cuba and Iran. He was critical of the NATO allies for not contributing to the organization to the extent they should have done.

On Friday, in his inaugural speech he maintained his stance taken during election campaign, Donald Trump said: “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first. For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries, while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military. We’ve defended other nations’ borders while refusing to defend our own.” However, there was a lot of double speak and self-contradictions. On one hand, he was against globalization and subsidizing the armies of other countries, which meant NATO and other allies; but on the other hand he pledged to unite the world against ‘radical Islamic terrorism’. It is yet to be seen as to what does he mean by radical Islamic terrorism; whether he means the entire Muslim fraternity or a few thousand misguided elements?

Details of some of the principal terrorists groups active during 1980s have been mentioned on pages 374/375 (Table 11.1) in “Sociology” written by renowned sociologist Anthony Giddens. Out of 26 groups, only 5 were Muslim groups fighting for the liberation of Palestine, which in fact could be counted as one group because they all had a common cause; the rest were all non-Muslim groups operating in European countries and elsewhere like Irish Republican Army (IRA), The Red Brigades in Italy and so forth. It is, therefore, irrational to identify terrorism with Muslims or Islam. However, the US, the West, the pseudo-intellectuals and palmed off writers blame Muslims for every act of terror. Anyhow, President Trump continued: “We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.”

Domestically, majority of Americans would not believe in or take his rhetoric of people’s democracy seriously. The question is how he can implement his vision when media, majority of the Americans and military establishment do not wish him well. Of course, he is an elected president, and has all the powers in his hand to call the shots, but he needs cooperation of the establishment because in the ultimate analysis it would implement his so-called vision. American establishment is unhappy over Trump’s bonhomie with president Putin, as it believes if Russia is given space it is fraught with dangers, as Russia could pose a serious challenge to the US in Eastern Europe and Central Asian republics — the breakaway republics of the Soviet Union. Secondly, political landscape of the world is changing. Russia and Turkey — a member of NATO — have come closer and are working together in Syria where Russian jets bombed targets at the behest of Turkey.

Given the policy guidelines in his inaugural speech, one could see fundamental shifts in American foreign policy and global governance, as Trump is not keen to play the role of global policemen. The most salient feature of his address was: “We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interest first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.” These are noble sentiments, but President Trump should know that neocons and pro-Israel strong lobbies would not let it happen. One renowned white American nationalist, politician, anti-Semitic and Holocaust denier Dr. David Duke in his treat wrote: Trump Inauguration Speech Declares War on the Neocons & Promotes Our Slogan “America First!”

After 9/11, David Duke had written that Israel’s control on foreign policy was the primary reason for terror at tacks on the US, and the attackers had committed horrendous and murderous acts motivated by revenge against America for support to Israel. America First slogan was used by President Woodrow Wilson during the United States presidential election, 1916. America First Committee, a group that opposed entry of the United States into World War II, was founded 1940, but after attack on Pearl Harbor, the US joined the war and the committee was dissolved in 1941. There is a perception that the US was tricked into joining the war through a false flag operation vis-à-vis attack on Pearl Harbor at the behest of the Jewish lobby. Of course, the US had played role in promoting democratic values, yet it has the stigma of interference in other countries.

It is too well known that the conspiracies were hatched to assassinate Lumumba and to remove President Soekarno. The US had played its ignominious role in stoking Iran-Iraq war, Arab Israel conflict and support for the contra saboteurs against the revolutionary government of Nicaragua. The list of its interferences, subversions, controls and overthrowing of Third World governments was too long to be elaborated. American leaders have never hidden their motives that they want to dominate the world and control its resources. Another objective is to make Israel more powerful than all the Arab countries put together. This is the reason that Israel continues to build settlements in West Bank and Jerusalem. In the new millennium, the US with a view to achieving its avowed objectives had occupied Afghanistan and Iraq, obviously to control the oil resources and to justify its armed forces presence in the region.

The writer is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at mjamil1938@hotmail.com